Research and resources for perinatal professionals.
October 08, 2021 | by: Molly Giammarco, MPP
Evidence-based childbirth education is a critical part of the prenatal care continuum, but too few are aware of, or have access to, this vital service. Lamaze members took this message to the Hill to educate Congressional staff on childbirth education’s critical role in improved outcomes and to advocate for increased access to their services.
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September 21, 2021 | by: Sarah Paksima
"Do I advocate for others because in a moment of vulnerability I was able to ask for what I needed and advocate for myself and I feel compelled by unspoken rules of reciprocity to empower others who are on a similar journey? Do I advocate for improving health care and settings because I had a glimpse of what it was like to face language and cultural barriers to care and want to make sure others have a better experience? Or does my desire to advocate come from someplace darker, a misplaced sense of self-righteous moral obligation? So, is this experience really why I advocate? Maybe. I don’t know if anyone can ever point to a single reason for why we do what we do. Perhaps there isn’t an experience or an external reason at all." - Sarah Paksima
September 14, 2021 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, LCCE, FACCE, CD/BDT(DONA), CLE
Today, as part of the Series: Why I Advocate, I take the opportunity to share the top ten reasons that I advocate for families and help families to learn how to be strong self advocates for their own care. This is a weekly series leading up to the Lamaze International 2021 Virtual Advocacy Summit on September 27-29. The virtual summit is an opportunity to connect with your fellow Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educators from around the world, who will be meeting to address the most critical and timely policy issues that affect prenatal care and childbirth outcomes. In this series, blog readers will have an opportunity to meet perinatal professionals and read their personal essays on why they advocate for evidence based care, improved policies and funding that impact birth outcomes. You can find the entire "Why I Advocate" Series here.
I have been advocating and helping families to become better advocates for their own perinatal care for almost 20 years. Here are my top ten reasons I believe this is important. Maybe your reasons are similar to mine?
August 23, 2021 | by: Brenda Kirkpatrick, AIMI, CD(DONA), LCCE, FACCE
"I teach both in a hospital environment and directly to parents who are planning on giving birth in a variety of settings. In either case, I always ask, “What is your fantasy birth?” In other words, if you knew that no matter what you and your baby would both be safe, what kind of birth story would you like to tell? It should be shocking to realize how low of a bar most people have set for their expectations." - Brenda Kirkpatrick
August 16, 2021 | by: Blake Slusser
While pregnant, I found myself scouring books and articles to fully understand all aspects of birth. I researched childbirth classes and jumped in feet first. I was well informed and advocated for myself during labor, birth, and postpartum. As a result, I experienced many things that were very uncommon 12 years ago that we know are healthier for babies like spontaneous labor, uninterrupted skin-to-skin, delayed cord clamping, and breastfeeding in the first hour, to name a few.
August 09, 2021 | by: Michelle Becker
Why do I advocate? Because everyone is entitled to the same information. Knowledge about our bodies should not be kept secret by the experts and should not be limited to those who can afford a high-price education. The human ability to birth should not be kept in the dark. It should be celebrated! We should shout from the rooftop: I can do it! - Michelle Becker
August 02, 2021 | by: Sujata Gami
I have been teaching perinatal classes since 1996 and have taught in India, Canada, Thailand, and United States. Over the years, I have learned and grown both as a Lamaze Educator, as well as an advocate for maternal health. I have developed patient-education perinatal curriculums for hospitals, planned and implemented trainings for L & D nurses on labor support skills, implemented a hospital -based doula program, and trained, mentored colleagues to teach evidence-based Lamaze childbirth education classes.
July 26, 2021 | by: Jill Wodnick
“Hope is never silent” declared activist Harvey Milk. It is withholding hope for respectful, equitable, and high quality maternity care that I choose to be involved with Lamaze International. Being a Lamaze childbirth educator and member centers my hope to a plurality of voices necessary to transform a very fragmented system of maternity care.
July 19, 2021 | by: Crystal Sada
To me, advocacy is helping people find their voice. Educating them so they empower themselves to make change, be it change for their birth or going further and making change for others. Standing next to them and providing support. In my childbirth classes I try to remain as balanced as the evidence will allow. I share that I am educating so that they can make the choices that are right for them at the time. My goal is preserving the birth memory because we remember our births for the rest of our lives. Even a birth ending not the way we originally planned can be an amazing memory, as we found with our second and third births.
July 12, 2021 | by: Lesley Pascuzzi
I advocate because until the journey to pregnancy and parenting is equal for everyone, there is always more to do. I want to ensure the road traveled happens with support, knowledge, confidence, and empowerment for all. I advocate because I want to be a part of a new trend that brings a holistic and realistic influence to birthing families. Let’s say to women you will be heroic in labor and birth. Let’s say to their partners you have the power to create an experience where she feels private, safe, and unobserved.
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